Category: gymnastics

too HOT in Qatar for the World Cup?

On By Rick McIn ethics, gymnastics, sport - proLeave a comment

I’m in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia right now volunteering at a Gymnastics course. In June the temperatures are mild. 🙂

Riyadh

They don’t really call it HOT here until about 45+.

President of FIFA Sepp Blatter:

“The Arabic world deserves a World Cup. They have 22 countries and have not had any opportunity to organize the tournament.”

Blatter also praised Qatar’s progress, “When I was first in Qatar there were 400,000 people here and now there are 1.6 million. In terms of infrastructure, when you are able to organise the Asian Games (in 2006) with more than 30 events for men and women, then that is not in question.”

On 2 December 2010, it was announced that Qatar will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. …

For the scheduled World Cup dates:

… the average daytime high in most of Qatar exceeds 50 °C (120 °F), the average daily low temperatures not dropping below 30 °C (86 °F). …

Having been there, I personally feel that Qatar could pull off this event. Nobody would die of heat emergency.

But the corruption scandal may well force a move to another nation.

Ex-FIFA VP Mohamed Bin Hammam allegedly paid $5 million in bribes to secure votes for Qatar, largely to 30 African soccer officials.

Keith Russell’s THANKS for LEAVING Party

On By Rick McIn education, friends, gymnasticsLeave a comment

Today.

His University of Saskatchewan Kinesiology Colleagues celebrate Professor Russell’s retirement.

Microsoft Word - Keith Russell photo with glasses.docx

Be warned.

He is Professor Emeritus. That means his messy office remains. Keith will be lurking the halls many years into the future. 🙂

retirement balloon

Here’s the present I intended to get him.

glasses holder

It’s the thought that counts. 🙂

Sweet Home Alabama

On By Rick McIn gymnastics, music, travelLeave a comment

I spent the Easter weekend in Birmingham, my first visit to the State. For the NCAA Gymnastics Championships.

In Birmingham they love the Governor. (boo boo boo)

Segragationist Democrat Governor George Wallace.

The don’t love judgmental Canadians.

Well, I heard Mister Young sing about her
Well, I heard ole Neil put her down
Well, I hope Neil Young will remember
A Southern man don’t need him around anyhow

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

That’s the classic and controversial hit by Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd that first appeared in 1974.

“Sweet Home Alabama” was written as an answer to two songs, “Southern Man” and “Alabama” by Neil Young, which dealt with themes of racism and slavery in the American South. “We thought Neil was shooting all the ducks in order to kill one or two,” said Ronnie Van Zant at the time …

In 1976, Van Zant and the band supported Jimmy Carter for his presidential candidacy, including fundraising and an appearance at the Gator Bowl benefit concert.

At the peak of their success, three members of Lynyrd Skynyrd died in an airplane crash in 1977, putting an abrupt end to the band’s most popular incarnation.

related – Free Bird was Skynyrd’s greatest song. Perhaps the greatest live rock anthem of all time.

By the way, it turned out that Montgomery, Alabama is a great place. I have not a single complaint.

ta ta Trinidad

On By Rick McIn gymnastics, travelLeave a comment

I spent 5 nights in Port of Spain with Guy Lavoie, clinician volunteers assigned by the International Gymnastics Federation.

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Carlton Hotel. Bake & shark. Mahi Mahi. Lamb stew. 🙂

Trinidad … is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just 11 km (6.8 mi) off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. …

map Trinidad

There is a wide range of ethnicity, religion, and culture. As of the 2012 Trinidad and Tobago Census,the population was 39.5% East Indian “Indo-Trinidadian”, 29.5% African “Afro-Trinidadian”, 23% mixed and 8% Other ” Many of these groups overlap …

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Trinidad is not much of a tourist hot spot. In fact, immigration on arrival is suspicious if you tell them you are a tourist.

My favourite vistas were of the lights at night.

Trinidad lights

I was up before dawn each morning, jogging the Queen’s Park Oval.

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Many historic buildings ring the park.

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We walked the Royal Botanical Gardens.

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Thanks Ricardo Lue Shue and everyone at T&T Gymnastics for hosting us. Ricardo was my host 15yrs ago, my first trip to Trinidad. It was great catching up. 🙂

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bye bye Barbados

On By Rick McIn gymnastics, travelLeave a comment

My friend Guy Lavoie and I spent 5 days on the island, volunteers for a Gymnastics Camp.

Still jet-lagged from South Africa, I was falling asleep by about 8pm, waking about 4am to run this boardwalk.

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I saw some amazing tropical dawns. 🙂

sunrise

Though busy, we did tour the island one afternoon.

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Gorgeous.

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My sincere thanks to our hosts Darius Fields and Alison Jackson.

dinner Barbados

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Barbados … is 34 kilometres (21 mi) in length and up to 23 kilometres (14 mi) in width…

It has a population of 277,821 people, mostly of African descent. …

The origin of the name Barbados is either the Portuguese word Barbados or the Spanish equivalent los Barbados, both meaning “the bearded ones” It is unclear whether “bearded” refers to the long, hanging roots of the bearded fig-tree (Ficus citrifolia), indigenous to the island; or to the allegedly bearded Caribs once inhabiting the island …

Rihanna is from Barbados.

South African gymnasts in Germany

On By Rick McIn gymnasticsLeave a comment

I’ve been at Visions Gymnastics in Johannesburg for the month of February.

Congratulations to two of their gymnasts who competed the last World Cup against some of the very best gymnasts in the world.

Adele and Bianca
Adele and Bianca
Michael and Bianca
Michael and Bianca

A great life and sporting experience.

Maputo, Mozambique

On By Rick McIn food, gymnastics, travelLeave a comment

Mozambique is a huge country, twice as long as California.

Tourists mainly visit for the sea. Beautiful beaches and diverse water sports.

I was in Maputo volunteering for the International Gymnastics Federation, my 3-day coaching course hosted at the nation’s main Faculty of Physical Education and Sport.

After it finished, I stayed one extra night with my host Edmundo Ribeiro.

Maputo is considered one of the most interesting and friendly African capitals.

It has a lazy tropical feel yet is scattered with high rise buildings. We took a Sunday afternoon driving tour of the relaxed capital city.

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historic fort
historic fort

The beach was packed on a Sunday.

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The highlight was a seafood feast at Restaurante Costa do Sol, a “Maputo classic”.

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2M BEER
2M BEER

Edmundo’s daughter in a popular city park.

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How to finish the day?

ICE CREAM, of course.

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Unlike South Africa, affluent citizens are not nearly so conspicuous. You have to search them out. They live here.

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I’ve met people who contracted malaria in Maputo. But over 5 days there in March I saw only 2 mosquitoes.

Maputo is infamous for random police checks, especially of tourists. The usual request is for a small bribe in exchange for the return of your passport. Savvy travellers carry, instead, a notarized copy of the passport. And ask to be taken to the police station when stopped.

I was carrying my passport when Edmundo got waived over for a random police check. … As it turned out, the lights were not working on one side of his vehicle. It was not random. After paying a small bribe, we drove on.

It’s less dangerous than JoBurg, overall.

more photos